Tiltable antenna

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed a supporting base for a vertical selfsupported shipboard antenna including a vertical section and an antenna element subassembly mounted adjacent the top of the section. The supporting base includes a first member permanently secured to and extending vertically from the deck of a ship and a second member coextensive with the first member having its lower edge spaced from the deck and its top edge hinged to the top of the first member. The lower portion of the vertical section is secured to and electrically insulated from the second member. Screws are passed through one of the first and second members and are threaded into the other of the first and second members to controllably interconnect these members to hold the antenna in a vertical operating position. A first rope is secured to the second member, is passed through an aperture in the first member and engages a pulley and a tubular member supported by the base and a second rope is secured to the vertical section above the hinge point. The two ropes are manipulated to cooperate in tilting the second member and the antenna to a horizontal position to enable maintenance of the antenna and raising the antenna to its vertical operating position. The arrangement securing the vertical section to the second member includes ballast to counterbalance the antenna and to urge the antenna into its vertical operating position.

United States Patent Smith [1,, 3,656,170- [451 Apr. 11,1972

1541 TILTABLE ANTENNA {72] Inventor: Harry R. Smith, Verona, NJ.

[73] Assignee: International Telephone and Telegraph Corporation, Nutley, NJ.

[22] Filed: June 25, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 49,680

2,639,381 5/1953 Thompson et a1. ....343/892 3,521,285 7/1970 Mautner ..343/882 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 489,693 10/1918 France ..343/882 535,681 2/1955 Belgium ....343/883 920,552 11/1954 Germany ..343/874 Primary Examiner-Eli Lieberman Aitorney-C. Cornell Remsen, Jr., Walter J. Baum, Paul W.

Hemminger, Charles L. Johnson, Philip M. Bolton, Isidore Togut, Edward Goldberg and Menottii J. Lombardi, Jr.

[5 7] ABSTRACT There is disclosed a supporting base for a vertical self-supported shipboard antenna including a vertical section and an antenna element subassembly mounted adjacent the top of the section. The supporting base includes a first member permanently secured to and extending vertically from the deck of a ship and a second member coextensive with the first member having its lower edge spaced from the deck and its top edge hinged to the top of the first member. The lower portion of the vertical section is secured to and electrically insulated from the second member. Screws are passed through one of the first and second members and are threaded into the other of the first and second members to controllably interconnect these members to hold the antenna in a vertical operating position. A first rope is secured to the second member, is passed through an aperture in the first member and engages a pulley and a tubular member supported by the base and a second rope is secured to the vertical section above the hinge point. The two ropes are manipulated to cooperate in tilting the second member and the antenna to a horizontal position to enable maintenance of the antenna and raising the antenna to its vertical operating position. The arrangement securing the vertical section to the second member includes ballast to counterbalance the antenna and to urge the antenna into its vertical operating position.

10 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEBAFR I I 1972 SHEET 1 BF 2 INVENTOR HARRY R. SM/T/I BY 3 c AGENT PATENTEDAPR 1 1 I972 SHEET 2 BF 2 INVENTOR HARRY R. SMITH BY WC. M

AGENT TILTABLE ANTENNA BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to antennas and more particularly to a supporting structure for a self-supported vertical antenna.

Self-supported vertical antennas used as the main shipboard antenna, or as the main antenna at a land based location, extend many feet into the air, for instance, 40 feet or more. These vertical antennas have supported adjacent the top thereof an antenna element subassembly, such as a top hat subassembly and from time to time will require maintenance of this subassembly and possibly the upper portion of the vertical section of the antenna. In the past, where maintenance of such an antenna is required a crane has been employed to provide access to the upper most portion of the antenna for the desired maintenance. The present day rate for the use of a crane having a height sufficient to reach the top of the 40 foot antenna is $1,500 per hour and therefore quite expensive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a supporting base for self-supported vertical antennas which will eliminate the necessity of employing cranes for maintenance thereof.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a supporting base for self-supported vertical antennas which will enable a single man to tilt the vertical antenna into a horizontal position to enable maintenance of such an antenna.

A feature of the present invention is the provision of a selfsupported vertical antenna including a vertical section and an antenna element subassembly mounted adjacent the top of the section capable of being tilted to a horizontal position to enable maintenance of the antenna comprising a supporting base including a first base member permanently secured to a horizontal supporting surface and extending vertically to a given height above the surface, and a second base member substantially coextensive with the first member and hinged thereto at the given height; first means to secure the lowermost portion of the section to the second member; second means controllably interconnecting the first and second members to hold the antenna in a vertical operating position; and third means connected to the secondmember and in a given working relation with the first member to enable tilting the second member and the antenna into thehorizontal position to enable maintenance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The above'mentioned and other features and-objects of this invention will become more apparent by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. I is an elevational view of the supporting base and vertical antenna in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the supporting base and the lower portion of the vertical section of the antenna looking toward the left in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the supporting base taken along line A-A of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the supporting base and the vertical antenna in the desired horizontal position for maintenance of the antenna.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. 14, there is illustrated therein a self supported vertical antenna including a vertical section I having a lower tubular section 2 and an upper tubular section 3 telescoped into section 2 and secured thereto by screws 4, such as socket head cap screws, wherein the tubing of section 3 is threaded to receive screws 4. The vertical antenna in addition includes an antenna element subassembly 5, such as a top hat subassembly, mounted adjacent the top of section 3 by means of sleeve 5a inserted into the top end of section 3 and cap screws 5b threaded into sleeve 50.

The vertical antenna in accordance with the principles of the present invention is self-supported by supporting base 6 including member 7 of channel type construction having its lower edge welded or otherwise secured to the horizontal supporting surface 8 and member 9 substantially coextensive with member 7 but spaced from the supporting surface 8 by an amount sufficient for clearance between surface 8 and the lower edge of member 9. The upper edge of member 9 is hinged to the upper edge of member 7 by means of hinge 10. A plurality of screws ll interconnect members 7 and 9. Screws 11 may be socket head cap screws passed through member 7 and threaded into a threaded aperture in member 9. The reverse relationship forscrews 1.1 is also possible. The purpose of these screws 11 are to maintain members 7 and 9 in the position illustrated so that the vertical antenna will be supported in a vertical operating position.

Supporting base 6 further includes members 12 and 13 to stabilize the permanently fixed member 7 by having the vertical edge of each of these members secured by means, such as welding, to member 7and the horizontal edge thereof secured by means, such as welding to surface 8. As illustrated members l2 and 13 are triangular, but it should be noted that these members may have any desired geometric shape as long as stabilization is accomplished.

Members 14 and 15 are secured to the lowermost portion of member 9 and interconnected or bridged by a horizontal member 16 thereby providing a mounting surface for the antenna that is at right angles to member 9. Secured to member 16 by means of cap screws 16a threaded into member 16 is electrical insulator 17 which, in turn, has secured thereto plug 18 by means of cap screws 17a threaded into the flange of plug 18. The reduced diameter portion of plug 18 is inserted into the bottom end of section 2 as illustrated. Insulator 17 and plug 18 has disposed therebetween gasket 19. Secured to plug 18 by a nut and bolt arrangement 18a is the antenna wire 20 to feed electrical energy to the antenna as desired.

Section 2 is further secured to member 9 by insulator 21 disposed adjacent the topmost edge of member 9 which, in turn, has secured thereto by means of cap screws 21a threaded into assembly 22. Assembly 22 grips and supports vertical section 2 of the antenna. Gasket 23 is interposed between insulator 21 and clamp 22.

The vertical antenna further includes a corona ring 24 disposed adjacent the point where section 3 telescopes into section and held in positionby set screw 24a.

Aperture 25 is provided-in member 7 and eye 26, such as an eye bolt, is secured to member 9 and when in the position illustrated in FIG. 1 extends through aperture 25. Adjacent aperture 25 there is secured to member 7 pulley 27. In addition, there is provided round tubing interconnecting members 12 and 13 disposed parallel to and a predetermined distance above surface 8 suchjas illustrated by tubing 28, 29 and 30.

As illustrated in FIG. l;screws 11* hold members 7and 9 in a mating condition and thereby support the antenna in its vertical operating position. When it is desired to perform maintenance on the uppermost portion of section 1 and subassembly 5, a rope 31 or similar device is fastened to eye 26, disposed to engage pulley 27 and disposed to engage one of tubings 28, 29or 30 as desired. A second rope 32 or similar device is secured to section 1 adjacent corona ring 24. Screws 11 are unfastened so as to free member 9 from member 7 such that when a force is applied to rope 32 and tension is relaxed on rope 31, member 9 will swing upward lowering the antenna toa horizontal position to enable maintenance of the uppermost portion of section 1 and subassembly 5.

To counterbalance the weightof the verticalantenna, ballast in theform .of plates 33 are secured by means of nuts and bolts 33a to plates 14 and 15. The weight of this ballast is such that there is a tendency to urge the antenna into its vertical operating position.

Thus, by employing the hinged supporting base in accordance with the principles of the presentapplication, .it-is possible for a singleman .to tilt the vertical antennainto a horizontal position for maintenance of the topmost portion of this antenna and also to raise the antenna into its vertical operating position thereby eliminating the cost of renting a crane to enable maintenance of such an antenna structure.

While I have described above the principles of my invention in connection with specific apparatus, it is to be clearly understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation to the scope of my invention as set forth in the objects thereof and in the accompanying claims.

lclaim:

l. A self-supporting vertical antenna including a vertical section and an antenna element subassembly mounted adjacent the top of said section capable of being tilted to a horizontal position to enable maintenance of said antenna comprising:

a supporting base including a first channel-shaped base member permanently secured to a horizontal supporting surface and extending vertically to a given height above said surface, and

a second channel-shaped base member substantially coextensive with said first member and hinged thereto by a hinge at said given height;

first means to secure the lowermost portion of said section to said second member;

second means controllably interconnecting said first and second members in a vertical, flush relation with respect to each other to hold said antenna in a vertical operating position; and

third means connected to said second member and in a given working relation with said first member to enable tilting said second member and said antenna with respect to said first member into said horizontal position through means of said hinge to enable said maintenance.

2. An antenna according to claim 1, wherein said third means further includes fourth means secured to said section above said given height to cooperate in tilting said antenna.

3 An antenna according to claim 2, wherein said fourth means includes a rope.

4. An antenna according to claim 1, wherein said first means includes fourth means securing the bottom end of said section to said second member adjacent the lower end of said second member, said fourth means including electrical insulating means to electrically insulate said section from said second member, and

fifth means securing said section to said second member adjacent said given height, said fifth means including electrical insulating means to electrically insulate said section from said second member. 5. An antenna according to claim 4, wherein said fourth means includes ballast means to counterbalance said antenna and urge said antenna toward said vertical operating position. 6. An antenna according to claim 1, wherein said second means includes at least one screw of a predetermined type extending through one of said first and second members and threaded into the other of said first and second members. 7. An antenna according to claim 1, wherein said base further includes third and fourth base members each having one vertical edge secured to the surface of said first member opposite said second member and one horizontal edge secured to said horizontal surface. 8. An antenna according to claim 7, wherein said third means includes an aperture in said first member adjacent the bottom end of said section, an eye secured to said second member extending through said aperture, at least one tubular member secured between said third and fourth members disposed parallel to and a predetermined distance above said horizontal surface, a pulley secured to the surface of said first member opposite said second member adjacent said aperture, and a first rope secured to said eye, engaging said pulley and engaging said tubular member to cooperate in tilting and raising said antenna. 9. An antenna according to claim 8, wherein said third means further includes a second rope secured to said section above said given height to cooperate in tilting said antenna. 10. An antenna according to claim 9, wherein said first means includes a fifth member secured at right angles to the surface of said second member opposite said first member in supporting and electrical insulating relation with the bottom end of said section, and ballast means controllably secured to said fifth member to counterbalance said antenna and urge said antenna toward said vertical operating position. 

1. A self-supporting vertical antenna including a vertical section and an antenna element subassembly mounted adjacent the top of said section capable of being tilted to a horizontal position to enable maintenance of said antenna comprising: a supporting base including a first channel-shaped base member permanently secured to a horizontal supporting surface and extending vertically to a given height above said surface, and a second channel-shaped base member substantially coextensive with said first member and hinged thereto by a hinge at said given height; first means to secure the lowermost portion of said section to said second member; second means controllably interconnecting said first and second members in a vertical, flush relation with respect to each other to hold said antenna in a vertical operating position; and third means connected to said second member and in a given working relation with said first member to enable tilting said second member and said antenna with respect to said first member into said horizontal position through means of said hinge to enable said maintenance.
 2. An antenNa according to claim 1, wherein said third means further includes fourth means secured to said section above said given height to cooperate in tilting said antenna.
 3. An antenna according to claim 2, wherein said fourth means includes a rope.
 4. An antenna according to claim 1, wherein said first means includes fourth means securing the bottom end of said section to said second member adjacent the lower end of said second member, said fourth means including electrical insulating means to electrically insulate said section from said second member, and fifth means securing said section to said second member adjacent said given height, said fifth means including electrical insulating means to electrically insulate said section from said second member.
 5. An antenna according to claim 4, wherein said fourth means includes ballast means to counterbalance said antenna and urge said antenna toward said vertical operating position.
 6. An antenna according to claim 1, wherein said second means includes at least one screw of a predetermined type extending through one of said first and second members and threaded into the other of said first and second members.
 7. An antenna according to claim 1, wherein said base further includes third and fourth base members each having one vertical edge secured to the surface of said first member opposite said second member and one horizontal edge secured to said horizontal surface.
 8. An antenna according to claim 7, wherein said third means includes an aperture in said first member adjacent the bottom end of said section, an eye secured to said second member extending through said aperture, at least one tubular member secured between said third and fourth members disposed parallel to and a predetermined distance above said horizontal surface, a pulley secured to the surface of said first member opposite said second member adjacent said aperture, and a first rope secured to said eye, engaging said pulley and engaging said tubular member to cooperate in tilting and raising said antenna.
 9. An antenna according to claim 8, wherein said third means further includes a second rope secured to said section above said given height to cooperate in tilting said antenna.
 10. An antenna according to claim 9, wherein said first means includes a fifth member secured at right angles to the surface of said second member opposite said first member in supporting and electrical insulating relation with the bottom end of said section, and ballast means controllably secured to said fifth member to counterbalance said antenna and urge said antenna toward said vertical operating position. 